Doctors do not know the exact medical factors that cause osteoporosis, but they do know many of the important factors that can lead to disease.
Aging: We all lose bone with age. After age 35, the body builds less new bone to replace old bone loss. In general, the older you are, the smaller your total bone mass, and the greater your risk for osteoporosis.
Heredity: A history of fractures in the family, a small body, thin skinned or Caucasian and Asian backgrounds may increase the risk for osteoporosis. Heredity also may help explain why some people develop osteoporosis early in life.
Food and lifestyle: poor feeding, including a diet low in calcium, low body weight and a sedentary lifestyle have been linked to osteoporosis, like smoking and excessive alcohol use.
Drugs and other diseases: Osteoporosis has been linked to some medications, including steroids and other diseases such as thyroid problems.